Thiruvananthapuram: Though Chengannur is 120 km away from Poonthura, the two places in Kerala have become very close over the past two months, at least in the hearts of the local residents. It was the people of Chengannur who came first with a helping hand when their hero who extended a helping hand to many in the area during the August floods died in an accident a few days ago in Kanyakumari district.
Leena, whose elderly parents were rescued by Jineesh, had never seen him in person. When he finally saw him, it was his lifeless body. He had died after getting injured in a road accident and left unattended.
After taking part in the funeral, Chengannur-native Leena started a Facebook campaign to raise funds for his parents. In five days, it raised Rs 2.4 lakh. Soon, it could cross Rs 7.5 lakh.
Leena has a story to tell, a story of friendship between two different areas. Chengannur is in the Pathanamthitta district and Poonthura is further south in Thiruvananthapuram district.
Video call rescue
Jineesh's Coastal Warriors, a band of volunteers, had gone to worst-affected Chengannur's Pandannur area for rescue operations in their boat. On the first day, Saji Cherian, MLA, too was with them. The Facebook live broadcast they did from the boat was viewed by thousands. They ended their live webcast once they reached Meppadi.
But many Keralites from abroad were sending messages seeking their help in rescuing their stranded relatives. Some wanted to see the status of their house. So, they resumed their webcast again.
After a while, Leena's message from the US landed in the phone of Johny Chekkitta who was in the boat. The Facebook message sought their help in rescuing her elderly parents. Though a geo location was sent, water had receded on the route, and the boat couldn't go there. When they were thinking what to do, Jineesh said, "We will go till the boat can go, after that I will swim." They restarted the boat and headed there.
Water level came down after they moved some distance. Since they had no clue about the route, they contacted Leena through video call. She showed them the way and they moved ahead. They entered the house flooded with water and sludge, reached the first floor and brought her bedridden mother and elderly father downstairs. Later, they were moved to a hospital in an ambulance.
Tragic turn
When she landed in Kerala from the US, Leena wanted to see all the seven members of the team but was unfortunate that she could not see one of the members alive. Leena reached Poonthura to take part in the funeral. At his home, she touched the feet of Jineesh's father and broke down.
Once the campaign was launched, 64 people came together to raise Rs 2.4 lakh in a few days' time.
